A system (100) for distributing a clock signal to many points on an integrated circuit. The system includes using a delay lock loop with specific digital circuits to accomplish the phase error detection and delay element selection. In one embodiment, two flip-flops are used to detect a phase error. In another embodiment, both macro (202) and micro phase detectors (218) are used and the delay element selection is performed in two stages by using a shift register (210) in a first stage and a counter (220) in a second stage. Another feature of the present invention is, the ability to distribute the reference clock or a synchronized clock to different portions of the circuitry on an integrated circuit. Multiple clock distribution systems are provided which may be selected.

System for distributing clocks using a delay lock loop in a programmable logic circuit

A phase-locked loop circuit (“PLL”) is adjustable in both phase and frequency. By providing a plurality of taps on the voltage-controlled oscillator of the PLL, and providing separate multiplexers, each of which can select a different tap—one for the PLL feedback loop and one for the PLL output—one allows the user to adjust the phase of the output relative to that of the input. Similarly, by providing loadable pre-scale (divide by N), post-scale (divide by K) and feedback-scale (divide by M) counters, one allows the user to adjust the frequency of the output to be M/(NK) times that of the input.

Phase-locked loop circuitry for programmable logic devices

A programmable logic device is provided with phase-locked loop (“PLL”) or delay-locked loop (“DLL”) circuitry in which the feedback loop circuitry substantially parallels and duplicates a portion of the clock signal distribution network on the device that receives the main PLL/DLL output signal. In this way the distributed feedback loop circuit more readily provides a substantially exact match for the distributed delay experienced by the signal propagating through the clock signal distribution network that the PLL/DLL circuitry serves.

Phase-locked loop or delay-locked loop circuitry for programmable logic devices

A clock control circuit includes a multiphase clock generating circuit receiving an output signal of a input buffer for generating multiphase clocks; a selector circuit receiving multiphase clocks output from the multiphase clock generating circuit for selecting one of the multiphase clocks; a first variable delay circuit for delaying the output of the selector circuit; a clock buffer dummy receiving the output signal of the variable delay circuit; a phase comparator circuit for detecting a phase difference between an output from the multiphase clock generating circuit and an output of the clock buffer dummy; and a filter for smoothing the output of the phase comparator circuit The first variable delay circuit has its delay time varied by the output of the filter The clock control circuit further includes a second variable delay circuit, receiving the output signal of the input buffer, having its delay time varied by the output of the filter; an adder circuit for adding the filter output and an input set value; a third variable delay circuit, receiving the output signal of the input buffer, having its delay time varied by the output of the adder circuit; and clock buffers receiving output signals of respective ones of the second and third variable delay circuits

Clock control circuit and method

A methodology is disclosed that enables the delay stages of an analog delay locked loop (DLL) or phase locked loop (PLL) to be programmed according to the operating condition, which may depend on the frequency of the input reference clock. The resulting optimized delay stages allow for a broad frequency range of operation, fast locking time over a wide range of input clock frequencies, and a lower current consumption at high clock frequencies. Better performance is achieved by allowing the number of analog delay stages active during a given operation to be flexibly set. The deactivation or turning off of unused delay stages conserves power at higher frequencies. The high frequency range of operation is increased by using a flexible number of delay stages for various input clock frequencies. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

Delay stage-interweaved analog DLL/PLL

A delay circit is described which automatically adjusts the propagation delay of clock signals, generated by a clock source, distributed to various receiving devices so that the receiving devices are clocked simultaneously. In one embodiment, the clock signal generated by a single clock source is independently delayed for each receiving device. To determine the proper amount of delay, a clock signal is simultaneously transmitted to each of the receiving devices and a clock return signal from each receiving device is returned to a delay circuit via a return path. The delay circuit detects the various differences in round-trip arrival times of the clock signal associated with each receiving device and fixes a particular clock signal delay for each receiving device so that subsequent clock signals will arrive at each receiving device simultaneoulsy.

David MacMillan

Papers

Clock signal distribution device